Freezer Plant's demolition proceeding slowly

The eyesore on the edge of the canal was supposed to be gone by now, but the dismantling of the so-called Freezer Plant is taking more time than expected.

SANDWICH — The eyesore on the edge of the canal was supposed to be gone by now, but the dismantling of the so-called Freezer Plant is taking more time than expected.

J.J. Burke, safety officer for the Sandwich Fire Department, said the contractor is expected to get its final environmental permit next week to remove asbestos tiles from the dilapidated building's roof.

Once the roof is removed and hauled away, the rest of the demolition should go quickly, Burke said.

The town is pushing building owner Arthur Fornier to raze the structure, built in the early 1900s and once used in fish processing, as it poses a potential safety hazard. Part of the roof had caved in long before demolition began.